Eating too much meat thought to cause Colon Cancer

Until recently, eating a high-fiber diet was thought to prevent colon cancer, but it has proved disappointing.

Now the focus has shifted to "excessive meat consumption," says Jeffrey R. Prince of the American Institute for Cancer Research. Possible villains in meat: heme iron, nitrates, nitrosamines and salt in processed meats, and heterocyclic amines in meats cooked at high heat. Also, high meat intake produces gut byproducts that are carcinogenic.

Prince says that the benefits of fiber aren't ruled out. Besides, high-fiber eaters are likely to eat less meat and vice versa. Other colon cancer factors: obesity, a lack of folic acid and little exercise:
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- thanks to VegMichigan